French brig Ronco (1808)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Tuscan and Tuscan (ship).

Ronco
History
French Navy EnsignFrance
NameRonco
NamesakeRonco (river)
BuilderVenice
Laid downJune 1807
LaunchedApril 1808
Captured2 May 1808
United Kingdom
NameTuscan
Acquired2 May 1808 by capture
Honours and
awards		Naval General Service Medal with clasp "1 Nov. Boat Service 1809"
FateSold 29 January 1818
 United Kingdom
NameTuscan
Owner
  • Thomas Pittman
  • Alexander & George Birnie
Acquired29 January 1818 by purchase
FateCondemned 1840; sold at public auction on 6 April 1840
General characteristics [1][2]
Displacement360 tons
Tons burthen3343⁄94 or 380[3][4](bm)
Length
  • 97 ft 7 in (29.7 m) (overall)
  • 76 ft 5 in (23.3 m) (keel)
Beam28 ft 8 in (8.7 m)
Draught3.55 m (11.6 ft) (unloaded)
Depth of hold4.38 m (14.4 ft)
Sail planBrig
Complement
  • French service:112
  • British service:100
Armament
  • French service: 14 × 24-pounder carronades + 2 × 6 or 12-pounder chase guns
  • British service: 14 × 24-pounder carronades + 2 × 9-pounder chase guns

Ronco was a French Illyrien or Friedland-class brig built at Venice and launched in April 1808. HMS Unite captured her less than two months later. The Royal Navy took her into service as HMS Tuscan. She served in the Mediterranean and participated in one action that earned her crew a Naval General Service Medal. She was first offered for sale in 1816 and sold in 1818. At that time mercantile interests purchased her and she became a whaler, making six voyages before being condemned as no longer seaworthy in March 1840 and sold in April during her seventh voyage.

  1. ^ Winfield & Roberts (2015), p. 219.
  2. ^ Winfield (2008), p. 319.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference RS1819 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tuscan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).